The holidays are a wonderful time for most, and it’s certainly a great time for those of us who are in the business of shipping gifts. Oh, it’s going to be a very busy time, and also a profitable one. The holidays do present a challenge when it comes to ensuring that products that are bought are able to be shipped out in a timely fashion. If there is a sudden, but welcome, surge in purchases during the lead up to the holidays, you need to be sure that you’re prepared for this increased demand on your shipping process.
So, here are six great tips to help you prepare and manage your shipping needs during the busiest time of the year!
1. Ship as soon as you can
This one might be a little bit of a no brainer, but when it comes to meeting the demands of the holiday shipping surge, you need to ship as quickly as possible. From order to shipment, you need to get the packages on their way at record speed. You may need to accelerate your existing shipment process a little bit. If you are expecting a large volume of shipments daily, waiting even 1 day to send out the orders could cause a huge pile up.
2. Update your shipment delivery timelines
When buying gifts for a loved one, customers need to know that they will be able to receive the package in time for the big day. This is why it is important to update your expected delivery dates and make sure that you are capable of keeping your promises. Ensuring that you meet your customer’s expectations is a good way to steer clear of any complaints.
3. Think ahead to the new year
Even though you are probably very excited by the possibility of increased sales in the lead up to the holidays, it’s always a good idea to look ahead to the new year. A great way to capitalise on the increased number of shipments you need to make is to include some additional incentives for return customers.
To do this, all you need to do is include a coupon or discount offer for the new year in each package. This can take the form of 25% off, free shipping, or anything you want. Leveraging current customers this way will help you to avoid as much of a January slump as possible.
4. Get a head start
If you know from previous experience that you have one or two products that will be selling well in the lead up to the holidays, then why not start prepping the shipments now? This will allow you to save time when the rush of orders comes through. Be careful not to be overly optimistic though. Especially if your stock needs paid storage before being shipped out.
5. Show off your return policy
As many people will be buying gifts for other people at this time of year, it is entirely possible that they will get the size wrong, or even buy them something that the recipient of the gift already has. For this reason, having a clear and easy to understand return policy will have a positive effect on sales at this time of year.
6. Get extra help
You may find that you need an extra pair of hands to get the job done. The cost in hiring someone to help you meet the demands of the holiday season will be worth it in the long run. After all, making sales is just as important as meeting the expectations of the customer at this time of year.
